On July 24, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) attempted an intercept test against two short-range ballistic missile targets in waters northwest of Hawaii. During the test, USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 14) fired four SM-6 Dual II interceptors at the incoming ballistic missiles, intercepting one target. In a statement, the MDA noted it “[could not]...
On November 6, the U.S. Army selected the Navy’s Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) and the BGM-109 Tomahawk for its Mid-Range Capability (MRC), part of the service’s ground-launched strike modernization effort. Following the selection, the Army awarded a $339.3 million contract to integrate both weapons for a ground-based launcher by late 2022. The supersonic SM-6 missile has...
On May 16, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) arrived at its new homeport in Rota, Spain, replacing USS Carney (DDG 64) in the Navy’s forward rotation. In a release, the Navy said the destroyer brings “top-of-the line capabilities” to the NATO’s missile defenses, introducing the Aegis Baseline 9/Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) 5.1...
On March 19, Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned JS Maya (DDG-179), the first of two Maya-class ships and the seventh Japanese ship equipped with the Aegis combat system. Equipped with the Aegis Baseline J7 system and Cooperative Engagement Capability, the Maya will be capable of engaging ballistic missiles with SM-6 and SM-3 Block...
On March 18, the U.S. Navy released its FY2020 budget proposal which indicated plans to develop an upgraded Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) variant, identified as the SM-6 Block IB. The missile will employ a larger 21-inch diameter motor, which will improve the missiles range and speed. It is scheduled to complete development by 2024. Related Links:...
Reports indicate that Japan’s Navy will outfit at least two of its Maya-class destroyers with SM-6 missiles, furthering Japan’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) initiative. Launched on July 30, JS Maya (DDG-179) is outfitted with the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, and is scheduled to conduct an SM-6 interception test in the United States around...
On October 15, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) announced that ships from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated in a live-fire integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) scenario. During the exercise, the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) tracked and defeated a medium-range ballistic...
On August 29, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Navy conducted a successful Aegis BMD test with the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) guided missile. Aegis BMD detected, tracked, and intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) target in its terminal phase. The Missile Defense Agency released the following statement regarding the test: Aegis BMD System Intercepts...
On June 7, the U.S. Navy completed the final land-launched flight test of its surface-to-air Standard Missile-6 Block IA (SM-6 Blk IA) at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The third of three required successful land flight tests demonstrated the SM-6 Blk IA’s improved technological capabilities and integration with the Aegis weapon system. At-sea testing is...
Missile threats facing both the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific are increasing in complexity, number, and source. In response, the Trump administration is using missile defenses to boost military capability and signal resolve, as indicated by the deployment of THAAD to South Korea...
